INTERNATIONAL ISO

STANDARD 2578
Second edition
1993-08-01

Plastics - Determination of
time-temperature limits after prolonged
exposure to heat
iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW
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Plas tiques - Determination des limites temps-tempka
exposition 2 I’action prolong6e de Ia chaleur
tures apr&

ISO 2578:1993
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54be27dc1523/iso-2578-1993

Reference number
ISO 2578: 1993(E)
ISO 2578:1993(E)

Contents
Page

1 Scope . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. .. . . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . . . ... . . . .. .. . .. . ..~......................................... 1

2 Normative references . ... .. .. ..*.......................................................... 1

3 Def initions . .. . . .. .. . . .. .. . .. .. .. . .. . .. .. .. . . .. . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ... .. . .. .. .. . .. .. . . .. ... ... . 2

4 Principle ’ . . . .. .. . . .. ... . . .. .. . .. . .. . . .. .. . . .. . .. . .. .. . .. . .. .. ... . .. .. .. . .. .. .. . .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. 2

5 Choice of test ..,........,.............................................................,,. 3

6 Choice of end-point . . . .. .. . ..*........................................................ 3

7 Test specimens ,............,.....................................................,..... 3

8 Exposure temperatures .,....,...,,,........,............~.............,......,,,.., 3

9 Ageing ovens .. .. . .. . ... . . .. . .. . .. . .. . . .. .. . . .. .. . .. .. . .. ... . .. .. .. . .. .. .. . .. ...*......... 3

10 Procedure .. . . .. .. . .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . .. .. . . .. .. .. ... . .. .. .. . .. .. .. . .. . .. . .. .. . . ... 3

11 Evaluation of results .,....................................... . .. .................... 4

12 Determination of the relative temperature

iTeh STANDARD index
PREVIEW
................... 7

13 Test report
(standards.iteh.ai)
.. . . .. .. .. . ... . .. . .. . .. .. . . . .. .. . .. .. . .. . ... . .. ... . .. .. . ................... 8
ISO 2578:1993
Annexes https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/2ece0955-8cfe-4971-b5d3-
54be27dc1523/iso-2578-1993
A Calculation of the regression line ............................................ 9

B Correlation coefficient ............................................................ 13

C Recommended test schedule for primaty properties ............ 14

0 ISO 1993
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mission in writing from the publisher.
International Organization for Standardization
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Printed in Switzerland

ii
 ISO 2578:1993(E)

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide
federation of national Standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work
of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Esch member body interested in a subject for
which a technical committee has been established has the right to be
represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental
and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO
collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission
(IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.

Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committees are

circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an International
Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting
iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW
a vote.

(standards.iteh.ai)
International Standard ISO 2578 was prepared by Technical Committee
ISO/TC 61, Plasties, Sub-Committee SC 6, Ageing, chemica/ and environ-
mental resis tance.
ISO 2578:1993
This second edition cancels and replaces
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(ISO 2578:1974), of which it constitutes a technical revision.
54be27dc1523/iso-2578-1993
Annexes A and B form an integral part of this International Standard. An-
nex C is for information only.

.. .
Ill
ISO 2578:1993(E)

Introduction
During the preparation of this International Standard, account was taken
of the contents of IEC 216. Accordingly, the terms and definitions in this
International Standard, as well as the procedures described, are in line or
identical with those specified in IEC 216.

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ISO 2578:1993
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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 2578:1993(E)

Plastics - Determination of time-temperature limits

after prolonged exposure to heat

1 Scope cation, the editions indicated were valid. All Standards

are subject to revision, and Parties to agreements
based on this International Standard are encouraged
1.1 This International Standard specifies the princi- to investigate the possibility of applying the most re-
ples and procedures for evaluating the thermal en- cent editions of the Standards indicated below.
durante properties of plastics exposed to elevated Members of IEC and ISO maintain registers of cur-
temperature for long periods. rently valid International Standards.

1.2 The term thermal endurante is used here to re- ISO 291: 1977, Plastics - Standard atmospheres for
fer to tests made in air, excluding any other influence
iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW
or stress applied to the test specimens. Thermal en-
conditioning and testing.

durante properties evaluated in different environ-

(standards.iteh.ai)
IEC 216-1 :1990, Guide for the determination of ther-
ments and/or with different Stresses applied to the
mal endurante properties of electrical insulating ma-
test specimens require different test procedures. terials - Part 1: General guidelines for ageing
ISO 2578:1993procedures and evaluation of test results.
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1.3 In this International Standard, the study of the
thermal ageing of plastics is based solely 54be27dc1523/iso-2578-1993
on the IEC 216-2: 1990, Guide for the determination
of ther-
Change in certain properties resulting from a period mal endurante properties of electrical insulating ma-
of exposure to elevated temperature. The properties terials - Part 2: Choice of the test criteria.
studied are always measured after the temperature
has returned to ambient. I EC 216-3-1: 1990, Guide for the determination of
thermal endurante properties of electrical insula ting
The various properties of plastics Change at various ma terials - Part 3: Instructions for calculating thermal
rates on thermal ageing. To enable comparisons to be endurante characteristics - Section 1: Calculations
made of the thermal ageing of different plastics, the using mean values of normally distributed complete
criteria for judgement depend on the type of property data.
to be studied and its acceptable limiting value.
IEC 216-3-3:-, ‘1 Guide for the determina tion of ther-
1.4 In the application of this Standard it is assumed mal endurante properties of electrical insulating ma-
that a practically linear relationship exists between the terials - Part 3: Instructions for calculating thermal
logarithm of the time required to Cause the predeter- endurante characteristics - Section 3: Calculations
mined property Change and the reciprocal of the cor- for incomple te da ta.
responding absolute temperature (Arrhenius Law).
IEC 216-4-1: 1990, Guide for the determination of
For the plastics tested, no transition, in particular a thermal endurante properties of electrical insulating
first-Order transition, should occur in the temperature ma terials - Part 4: Ageing ovens - Section 1:
range under study. Single-chamber ovens.

2 Normative references I EC 216-5: 1990, Guide for the determination of ther-

mal endurante properties of electrical insulating ma-
The following Standards contain provisions which, terials - Part 5: Guidelines for the application of
through reference in this text, constitute provisions thermal endurante characteristics.
of this International Standard. At the time of publi-

1) To be published. [15B (BC.1 821

ISO 2578:1993(E)

3 Definitions a mechanical, Optical or electrical property) are deter-

mined as a function of time.
For the purposes of this International Standard, the
The procedure is continued until the relevant thresh-
following definitions apply.
old value of that characteristic has been reached, re-
sulting in the time to failure at that particular
3.1 temperature index (Tl): Number corresponding
temperature.
to the temperature, in degrees Celsius, derived from
the thermal endurante relationship at a given time Further specimens are exposed at at least two other
(normally 20 000 h). temperatures and the variations in the relevant char-
acteristic determined. lt is recommended to heat-age
3.2 relative temperature index (RTI): Temperature test specimens at three to four temperatures, and
index of a test material, obtained at the time which determine the time to failure for each of the tem-
corresponds to the known temperature index of a peratures.
reference material when both materials are subjected
to the same ageing and diagnostic procedures in a
comparative test.
4.2 Determination of Tl
3.3 halving interval (HIC): Number corresponding
to the temperature interval, in degrees Celsius, which The times to failure are plotted versus the reciproca
expresses the halving of the time to end-point taken values of the exposure temperatures. The intersectior
at the temperature of the Tl or the RTL of this curve with the Chosen time limit (in genera
20 000 h) gives the temperature index sought.
HIC is a measure of the slope of the thermal endur-
ante graph. lt is not constant, but varies with tem-
perature even when the thermal endurante
4.3 Use of correlation coefficient
relationship is linear. In many practical cases, the error
iTeh STANDARD
arising from the use of HIC in the temperature range
of interest remains within acceptable limits.
PREVIEW
The reliability of the extrapolation of. the graph de-
pends on obtaining an acceptable Arrhenius Plot,
3.4 thermal endurante
(standards.iteh.ai)
graph (Arrhenius graph):
which may not be possible with materials showing
behaviour related to a transition phenomenon in the
Graph in which the Iogarithm of time to resch a
ISO Chosen temperature range.
2578:1993
specified end-point in a thermal endurante test is
plotted versus the reciprocal https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/2ece0955-8cfe-4971-b5d3-
thermodynamic (abso- For this purpose the correlation coefficient r is calcu-
lute) test temperature. 54be27dc1523/iso-2578-1993
lated in accordance with annex B. If this calculation
results in a value smaller than 0,95 (for three test
3.5 threshold value: Value, corresponding to a per- temperatures; see also IEC 216), an additional test at
centage of the initial value of the property under in- a different test temperature may improve the linearity
vestigation, at which the ageing test is stopped and of data.
the time to failure is calculated.

NOTES
4.4 Determination of RTI
1 The level of 50 % is often used to determine the
threshold value. For determination of RTI, the Chosen reference plas-
tic, its thermal endurante and the method of deter-
2 If a minimum value is required after ageing, it may be
mination are of central importante.
agreed between the interested Parties to use this minimum
value as the threshold value, instead of a percentage of the
The reference plastic shall be of the same type as the
initial value.
tested plastic, and have a history of satisfactory ser-
vice. lt shall have a known temperature index for the
3.6 test-specimen failure time: Time required at
property and a threshold value which are the Same,
the exposure temperature for a specimen to either fail or at least reasonably similar to, those to be employed
the proof test or resch the threshold value of the
in the RTI test. The Tl and HIC of the reference ma-
characteristic under investigation, whichever is
terial should also be approximately the same as the
shorter.
values expected for the tested plastic.

Since processing conditions may significantly affect

4 Principle the ageing characteristics of some materials, the
sampling, cutting of sheet from the supply roll, cutting
4.1 Determination of time to failure of anisotropic material in the same direction, mould-
ing, curing, preconditioning, etc. shall be performed in
At a Chosen temperature, the variations in the nu- the same manner for both materials, and the speci-
merical value of a Chosen characteristic (for example, mens shall be tested in the Same thickness.

2
 ISO 2578:1993(E)

5 Choice of test the relevant test specifications and to reduce this number.
However, it must be recognized that the precision of the
test result depends to a large extent on the number of
The test Chosen shall relate to a characteristic which specimens tested.
is likely to be of significance in practice and, wherever
possible, use shall be made of test methods specified 5 In contrast, when the individual results are too scattered,
in International Standards. If the dimensions and/or an increase in the number of specimens may be necessary
form of the test specimens are altered by the heat in Order to obtain satisfactory precision.
treatment, then only test methods which are inde-
pendent of these effects may be used. 6 lt is advisable to make an approximate assessment, by
means of preliminary tests, of the number and duration of
the ageing tests required.
6 Choice of end-point
8 Exposure temperatures
For the selection of the end-point, two factors shall
be agreed upon:
8.1 Test specimens shall be exposed at not less
a) the period of time for which a time-temperature than three temperatures, covering a range adequate
limit shall be estimated; for general purposes, a to establish the time-temperature limit by extrapo-
period of 20 000 h is recommended; lation with the required degree of accuracy. The low-
est exposure temperature shall be Chosen so that the
ti’me taken to resch the threshold value is at least
NOTE 3 Other times (shorter or longer than 20 000 h) 5 000 h. Similary, the highest temperature shall be
may be Chosen if necessary. Chosen so that the time taken to resch the threshold
value is not shorter than 100 h. The lowest exposure
b) the acceptable threshold value of the Chosen temperature shall not be more than 25 “C above the
characteristic; this threshold value depends on the anticipated Tl.
conditions of use foreseen.
iTeh STANDARD8.2PREVIEWIf the temperature limit sought is intended for a
7 Test specimens (standards.iteh.ai)
time other than 20 000 h (see clause 6, note3), the
lowest exposure temperature shall be Chosen so that
the time taken to resch the threshold value is at least
ISO 2578:1993one-fourth of the time limit Chosen for extrapolation.
7.1 The dimensions and method of preparation of
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the test specimens shall be in accordance with the
54be27dc1523/iso-2578-1993
specifications given for the relevant test method. 8.3 Selection of adequate exposure temperatures
requires previously determined information on the
7.2 For a criterion requiring a destructive test, the material under test. If such information is not avail-
minimum total number (n) of test specimens needed able, exploratory tests may help in selecting exposure
depends on temperatures which are suitable for evaluating the
thermal endurante characteristics.
- the number a of test specimens required for one
test, according to the test specifications given for 9 Ageing ovens
the relevant test method;
For heat ageing, ovens shall be used that meet the
- the number b of tests necessary to determine the requirements specified in IEC 2164, in particular with
end-point at one exposure temperature; respect to the temperature tolerantes and Ventilation
rates of air exchange.
- the number c of exposure temperatures;

- the number Cl of specimens needed for the initial 10 Procedure

test before heat ageing.
Thus the total number of specimens is: 10.1 In addition to the specimens to be exposed to
heat-ageing temperatures, an adequate number of
n = abc+d test specimens shall be kept separately as a reserve
For a criterion requiring non-destructive testing, and
for each exposure temperature, in most cases a group - for cases in which the accuracy requires heat
of five test specimens is adequate. ageing at an additional temperature;

NOTES - as reference specimens.

4 When there is a large numb er of specimens to be They shall be stored in an appropriately controlled at-
tested, it may be possible in certa in cases to deviate from mosphere (see ISO 291).
ISO 2578:1993(E)

10.2 Before the heat-ageing procedure is started, 10.5 Continue this procedure until the numerical
an initial test shall be made at room temperature with value of the characteristic under investigation reaches
the required number of specimens conditioned and the relevant threshold value.
tested in accordance with the Chosen test method.

Thermosetting materials shall be conditioned for 48 h 11 Evaluation of results

at the lowest exposure temperature of the range se-
lected. 11.1 For both destructive and non-destructive tests,
for each exposure temperature and for each heat-
NOTE 7 If necessary, thermoplastic materials should be ageing period, the value of the Chosen property is
annealed for 48 h at the lowest exposure temperature of plotted as a function of the logarithm of the time (see
the range selected. figure 1). The Point at which this graph intersects the
horizontal line representing the end-point criterion is
taken as the time to failure.
10.3 Place the required number of specimens in When applying a proof test, the tim es to failure shall
each of the ovens maintained at the selected tem- be calculated as t he mean values?)
peratures.

If there is a risk of Cross-contamination between test 11.2 The calculation of the the,rmal endurante curve
specimens originating from different plastics, use is based on these times to failures and the respective
separate ovens for each material. exposure temperatures. If mean values are used, the
logarithmic mean represents the time to failure.

11.3 Calculate a first-Order regression line in ac-

IO.4 At the end of each heat-ageing period (see cordante with annex A.
note8), the required number of test specimens is re-
moved from the oven and conditioned, if necessary,
11.4 Plot the times to failure versus exposure tem-
iTeh STANDARD
under the appropriately controlled atmosphere (see
PREVIEW
peratures
ISO 291). The test, in accordance with the selected on graph Paper having a logarithmic time
scale as the Ordinate and an abscissa based on the
ture.
(standards.iteh.ai)
test criterion, shall be carried out at room tempera-
reciprocal of the absolute temperature but showing
the correlated values in degrees Celsius. The first-
NOTE 8 After the first week, during which the number ISO 2578:1993 Order regression line is drawn through the Points
of determinations of the characteristic under investigation plotted on the graph, which thus represents the ther-
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tan vary depending on the material under test, the test du- mal endurante of the material under test. An example
54be27dc1523/iso-2578-1993
rations are generally selected in accordance with annex C. is given in figure 2.

2) See IEC 216-1 :lSSO, subclause 11 .l.

4
 iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW
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End-point cr iter ion
50
ISO 2578:1993
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54be27dc1523/iso-2578-1993

Exposuretemperatures 190 "c 171 "c 149 "c 130 'c

0 :jl I l 'I""l ' l "1""I ' I "1""12

0 20 50 100 200 500 1000 2 000 5 000 IO 000
Ageing time, h

Figure 1 - Determination of the time to resch the end-point at each temperature - Property Variation
(According to IEC 216-1)
ISO 2578:1993(E)

-äi
d
bi
$
f z 2x104
ai gj
E 0
i=z!
IO4

IO3

iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW

(standards.iteh.ai)
ISO 2578:1993
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54be27dc1523/iso-2578-1993

I ~~ 1--

160 180 200 220

HIC Temperature,"C

-
I I I I I
0,25 0,24 0,23 0,22 0,21

l/T (IO-* K-l)

Figure 2 - Thermal endurante graph - Temperature index - Halving interval (According to I EC 216-1)
 ISO 2578:1993(E)

11.5 Calculate the temperature index (TI) corre- 12 Determination of the relative
sponding to the time limit Chosen (generally
20 000 h) and the halving interval (HIC) in accordance
temperature index
with annex A; calculate the correlation coefficient in The relative temperature index (RTI) is a thermal en-
accordance with annex B. durante characteristic which is derived from the two
NOTES thermal endurante relationships or curves resulting
from the comparative testing of the test material and
9 When the temperature scale is Chosen in such a way the reference material. The RTI is specifically related
that equal intervals correspond to equal intervals of recipro- to the time corresponding to the Tl originally deter-
cal kelvins, then the various Points obtained will be found mined for the reference material.
to lie on a straight line if a linear dependence exists.
The RTI consists of two numbers, one representing
10 When the temperature range used is comparatively the temperature derived using equation (1) and the
small, a curve tan be prepared using an abscissa scale pro- other the associated HIC. The derivation may be nu-
portional to the temperature; in this case the curve tan be merical or graphical (details are given in IEC 216-3).
fit to a straight line only with great circumspection.
In the derivation and in figure3, the following notation
is used:

-5
i2 Reference material:TI,130
bi
g
L: E 2xqo4
a.i g
.-EO
l-d
IO4
iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW IRTI =TI, +(TA - TB)I
(standards.iteh.ai)
ISO 2578:1993
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54be27dc1523/iso-2578-1993
IO3
aterial

erence material

102

10
200 210

Temperature,"C

0.;4 0.;3 0.;2 0,;1

l/T (IO-* K-l)

Figure 3 - Thermal endurante graph - Relative temperature index - Halving interval

(According to IEC 216-1)